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Chapter 22
Tommovedofffromthetentandbeckonedhertofollow,andwhenheturned,shelookedupathim.
«LordGod,you’regrowin’up,"hesaid.
Shelookedawayinsuddenembarrassment.«Listenhere,"Tomsaid.«Don’tyouwakenobodyup,butwhentheygetup,youtell’emIgotachancetatajob,an’I’ma-goin’forit.TellMaIetbreakfas’withsomeneighbors.Youhearthat?»
Ruthienoddedandturnedherheadaway,andhereyeswerelittlegirl’seyes.«Don’tyouwake’emup,"Tomcautioned.Hehurriedbacktohisnewfriends.AndRuthiecautiouslyapproachedthesanitaryunitandpeekedintheopendoorway.
ThetwomenwerewaitingwhenTomcameback.Theyoungwomanhaddraggedamattressoutandputthebabyonitwhileshecleanedupthedishes.
Tomsaid,«Iwantedtotellmyfolkswhere-atIwas.Theywasn’tawake.»Thethreewalkeddownthestreetbetweenthetents.
Thecamphadbeguntocometolife.Atthenewfiresthewomenworked,slicingmeat,kneadingthedoughforthemorning’sbread.Andthemenwerestirringaboutthetentsandabouttheautomobiles.Theskywasrosynow.Infrontoftheofficealeanoldmanrakedthegroundcarefully.Hesodraggedhisrakethatthetinemarkswerestraightanddeep.
«You’reoutearly,Pa,"theyoungmansaidastheywentby.«Yep,yep.Gottomakeupmyrent.»
«Rent,hell!»theyoungmansaid.«HewasdrunklastSat’dynight.
Sunginhistentallnight.Committeegivehimworkforit.»Theywalkedalongtheedgeoftheoiledroad;arowofwalnuttreesgrewbesidetheway.
